Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Lilley, who started the mom-popular Mini-eco blog, takes the cardboard boxes, bottle caps, and standard-issue household non-toxics (baking soda, vinegar, etc.), then illustrates how to turn them into useful time killers as well as teachable minutes for pre-K kids. The age category in the subtitle-"for preschool kids"-may, however, be a bit deceptive. For example, in the science chapter, preschoolers may only watch in wonder while white daisies blossom red or blue or green after setting them in jars of water and food coloring, while an early grade-schooler might begin to grasp the concept of transpiration. Material is organized into chapters on nature, recycling, science, sewing, etc., and Lilley's approach will have kiddos learning such things as the magic of making homemade hot pink play dough with boiled beet juice. Once the adult part of a project (boiling, ironing, heavy cutting) is done, kids can exercise their minds, and unsupervised fingers, with sidewalk chalk formed with a toilet paper roll or a guitar made from a cardboard box. "Boredom busters," the final chapter's projects, are not your average rainy-day time-fillers, but who's to say worm collecting on a rain-soaked day isn't fun? (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
